Susan C. Vaughan (au). What makes us see the glass half empty or half full? How does an optimist sustain an upbeat perspective? How can a pessimist change in order to see the world differently? Here Vaughan offers fresh & helpful ways to understand optimism. She shows that healthy illusions form the base of optimism. Optimism flows from our ability to interpret & remember our experiences in a positive light. Examines the origins of optimism in early life & offers new evidence for the role of biology in how we interpret our experience. Offers proven tricks & techniques to fool the brainís circuitry into looking on the bright side. Shows that in learning the skills we need to construct & sustain illusions, we also build a stable, internal psychological core of strength.